New water restrictions for the state won't really impact farmers because their water allotments are already set.

New water restrictions for the state won't really impact farmers because their water allotments are already set.

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Updated: 7:39 PM PDT Apr 1, 2015

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WEBVTT THAT IS THE LATEST HERE IN STOCKTON. ROB: THANK YOU. AGRICULTURE IS A BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA. WATER FOR FARMERS IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR THE STATE BUT FOR THE COUNTRY. WATER ALLOCATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THE YEAR. AS KCRA'S LINDA MUMMA REPORTS, THE NEW RULES WILL REQUIRE INCREASED REPORTING ON WATER USAGE. LINDA: WITH THE 62% REDUCTION IN WATER DELIVERIES THE FARMS IN THE TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY, RAY IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO CONSERVE AND MAKE EVERY DROP COUNTS. WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR A SHORTER SEASON AND TO MAKE OUR WATER GO AS FAR AS IT CAN. LINDA: WHICH IS WHY HE SUPPORTS THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN REQUIRING ADVOCAT RURAL WATER USERS -- AGRICULTURAL WATER USERS TO REPORT MORE, WHICH WILL ENFORCE AGAINST ILLEGAL DIVERGENCE AND WASTE AS LONG AS THE INFORMATION IS USED CORRECTLY. IT IS PROBABLY LONG OVERDUE. WE ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN WATER IN CALIFORNIA. THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING THE RIGHT THING AS FAR AS GATHERING INFORMATION. THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IS STILL AGRICULTURE. LINDA: MEDIUM AND LARGE WATER DISTRICTS WILL NEED TO SUBMIT NOT ONLY DETAILED WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS BUT CONTINGENCIES FOR FUTURE DROUGHTS, SOMETHING TURLOCK IRRIGATION BOARD DISTRICT PRESIDENT SAYS SMALLER DISTRICTS HAVEN'T BEEN REQUIRED TO DO UP UNTIL NOW. I THINK WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW REQUIRES US TO BE EVEN MORE ACCURATE. WE ARE WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME. WE ARE PUTTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO NEW INSTRUMENTS TO TAKE MORE ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS. LINDA: THE NEW RESTRICTIONS WOULD ALSO REQUIRE WATER SUPPLIERS TO REPORT WATER USAGE,

Water allotments to famers set as state calls for new restrictions

New water restrictions for the state won't really impact farmers because their water allotments are already set.